Known worldwide as the home of the flagship campus for the University of California, Berkeley is a college town in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. "Berkeley is kind of a mixture of a small city and a town in many ways. It's just a fantastic spot," says Colette Ford, a Realtor with The Grubb Company and longtime resident. "It's a great city full of amazingly interesting people. When I say a small town, I mean people are friendly with one another. When I first moved here, I was new to the city, and someone was driving down the street and yelled, 'Hey, Colette.' It just made me feel great." Berkeley is part of the East Bay, across the water from San Francisco and north of Oakland. The University of California Berkeley is a large part of the city's culture and economy, serving as one of the area's largest employers and hosting 33,000 undergraduate students. The University is tied to the city's counterculture movement, with a history of political protests by students and faculty. But it's not just politics that contributes to the hippie environment: Berkeley is home to a vibrant arts scene and has live music venues like The Greek Theatre, which hosted popular 1960s and 1970s folk rock bands. Today, the city has several distinct neighborhoods, from the apartments and student-oriented businesses near campus to the trendy shopping on Fourth Street and the upscale restaurants in North Berkeley. With the Bay on one side and forested hills on the other, there is plenty of outdoor recreation that appeals to residents of all ages.
Towering oaks and iconic buildings define the UC Berkeley campus landscape.
Cafe M is a favorite brunch spot for locals and their dogs.
ACCI Gallery showcases unique arts and crafts in the heart of Berkeley.
The Greek Theatre in Berkeley offers a stunning backdrop for unforgettable performances.
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California Cuisine and New York-style bagels in Berkeley
Berkeley has several shopping and dining districts with a wide range of options. Fourth Street in West Berkeley has industrial-style buildings with a mix of local and upscale shops and restaurants. This area is known for its cultural cuisines, including Indian, Mexican and Japanese food. North Berkeley's Shattuck Avenue—formerly known as Gourmet Ghetto—is home to a wide variety of upscale eateries. Chez Panisse has been in the neighborhood since 1971 and is widely regarded as starting the California Cuisine movement, which emphasizes farm-to-table and seasonal ingredients. The neighborhood is also the birthplace of Peet's Coffee. The quaint Elmwood neighborhood has small local cafes and restaurants, including Boichik Bagels, which the New York Times named some of the best in the country. Supermarkets like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Berkeley Bowl are scattered throughout the city, while downtown has a Target and other chain stores. Telegraph Avenue near the University campus is a shopping district that is still holding on to the counterculture and hippie scene in Berkeley. Colorful facades and murals adorn the street, and local businesses include record stores, vintage clothing boutiques and art supply shops. Moe's Books is a bookstore on Telegraph that has been open since 1959 and is known for its rare and fine arts books department.
Design Within Reach is an outdoor furnishing store with many designer pieces on Fourth St.
A lady enjoys her morning coffee at the Original Peet's Coffee in North Berkeley.
Berkeley Bowl Store offers a wide selection of fresh produce to choose from.
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Parks, arts and culture from the Bay to the Berkeley Hills
Berkeley has over 50 parks throughout the city, including several neighborhood green spaces with basketball courts, tennis courts and playgrounds. "We have tons of pocket parks, so in almost every neighborhood, there are little mini-parks where kids can have a play structure. You don't need to drive. You're likely going to be within a 5 to 10-minute walk to a park," says Megan Micco, a third-generation Berkeley resident and broker associate at Compass. Cesar Chavez Park is a 90-acre spot on the Bay with a wheelchair-accessible walking trail and a 17-acre dog park. Built on a former landfill site, the park also has a wildlife refuge and is a popular spot for flying kites. There are dozens of hiking trails on the city's east side, making it easy to enjoy the outdoors. "I can walk out my door and go hiking. I don't even have to drive; I can just walk up the hill. The views are fabulous," says Ford. The 2,000-acre Tilden Park has many trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The park is also home to Lake Anza, a prime destination for swimming in the summer. Homeowners in the Berkeley Hills can stroll along the Berkeley Paths, a collection of stairways and paths that cut between the streets. These were built in the early 1900s and allowed residents to take shortcuts when walking through the neighborhood instead of walking on the long twists and turns of the streets.
The University is another source of entertainment in the city, with events like football games at California Memorial Stadium. The Greek Theatre is an outdoor amphitheater on campus that seats 8,500 people. The theater has hosted iconic musicians like Neil Young, Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead and still attracts top rock and pop acts.
Berkeley has a thriving arts scene, with over 100 cultural arts organizations. The Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley Art Center and Berkeley Repertory Theater are just some of the spots around the city for taking in the arts. The museum, also known as BAMPFA, traces its roots back to 1881 and currently has over 25,000 pieces of work covering a wide range of artistic styles. It also shows approximately 450 film screenings a year, including rare copies of classics, new movies and restored silent films. There are plenty of smaller art galleries and live music venues throughout the city as well, making it easy to enjoy the area's cultural offerings.
Grizzly Peak Vista Point is of the popular tourist destination located in Berkeley Hills.
The Berkeley Art Center is tucked into a grove of redwood trees nearby Likve Oak Park.
At Aquatic Park, you can enjoy a scenic frisbee golf course.
San Pablo Park offers a wide range of recreational activities for all ages in West Berkeley.
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Wide range of housing styles on densely populated Berkeley streets
Most of Berkeley is densely populated, with homes right next to each other. Architectural styles range from Craftsman and bungalow houses to Mediterranean and Victorian estates. Condos and apartment complexes also comprise much of the city, especially downtown and near the university. Quieter parts of town include Elmwood, which has tree-lined streets and local cafes within walking distance. The Berkeley Hills is one of the more prestigious neighborhoods and features larger lots on hilly streets high above the city. Some properties here have views of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The median housing cost in the city is $1,400,000 and has not changed over the past year. Prices have remained relatively steady in Berkeley, only going down by $100,000 since 2022. The city is an outlier in the Bay Area, where the median price has steadily increased. However, costs are expected to increase over the next year due to the limited supply. Homes in Berkeley sell in an average of 24 days, quicker than the national average of 44 days. About 84% of houses also sell for above asking price, making Berkeley a market that leans heavily in favor of sellers.
Elmwood is home to several well-preserved examples of colonial revival homes.
A sculpture of a T-Rex sits in front of this brightly colored bungalow in South Berkeley.
Modern apartments and lofts can be found in West Berkeley.
Claremont’s elegant homes seamlessly blend into the hills overlooking Oakland and Berkeley.
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Highly rated education from kindergarten through graduate school
Berkeley Unified School District serves approximately 9,400 students across the city. The district has 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and one comprehensive high school. It receives an A rating from Niche and has some of the lowest class sizes in the state, allowing for a more personalized education. The University of California Berkeley has 33,000 undergraduate and nearly 13,000 graduate students. Founded in 1868, the University is consistently ranked as one of the best public colleges in the country by U.S. News & World Report. UC Berkeley is known for its science programs, including engineering, computer science and biology. Alumni have won 35 Nobel prizes and 121 Olympic gold medals. The University is also known as the birthplace of student activism, with a history of protests concerning free speech, the Vietnam War and community gathering spaces.
Emerson Elementary School is a highly regarded public elementary school in Claremont.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School offers tennis, a pool and track & field.
Berkeley High has one of the country’s only African American Studies departments.
Cal is the flagship university for the UC system.
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BART access from Berkeley to the South Bay
Three Bay Area Rapid Transit stations serve Berkeley, offering public transportation throughout the region. The city is on the Orange and Red lines; Orange trains lead south to San Jose, while Red trains head to San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. Several AC Transit routes also serve the city, taking riders to stops in Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco. Ford highly recommends taking public transit, as the highways in the area can get congested and lead to long commutes. Silicon Valley companies like Apple and Google provide shuttles for employees living throughout the Bay Area. For those who prefer to drive, Interstate 580 leads south through the Bay Area and connects to the Bay Bridge, leading to San Francisco. The airport is approximately 24 miles away via I-80. Berkeley itself is a walkable city, allowing locals to easily get to nearby shops and restaurants in their neighborhoods.
A temperate California climate on the East Bay
The climate in Berkeley is a big selling point, according to Ford. "I lived in Boston, and I moved to Berkeley because I found out winter was optional," she says. "It doesn't get too hot either. It's rare that you would need the air conditioning." Temperatures in the summer range from 50 to 70 degrees, while the winter has lows of 40 and highs of 60. The city gets about 25 inches of rain annually, with half coming from November to March.
Combating increased crime in Berkeley
Crimes in Berkeley increased by 10.5% in 2023, with violent crimes alone seeing a 15% increase. There were 766 violent crimes in 2023, which equals a rate of about 643 crimes per 100,000 people. California as a whole saw a 1.7% increase in violent crime and a rate of 503. Property crimes in the city increased by 9.7%, with 7,110 total crimes. That's a rate of about 5,976 incidents per 100,000 people, much higher than the statewide rate of 2,294. The Berkeley Police Department has several initiatives to combat crime, including a Gun Violence Intervention & Prevention program that works with multiple city departments and community organizations. The department also uses data to plan its patrols and send officers to specific places where their presence can deter crime.
Mitchell Barocio’s deep roots in the Bay Area have shaped his unparalleled understanding of the local market, architecture, and lifestyle. As a licensed real estate professional, seasoned contractor, and former owner of a high-end flooring and design company in Walnut Creek for over 20 years, Mitchell brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and design expertise to every transaction. His background spans color consultation, fabric and texture selection, and innovative surface techniques—experience that’s been honed through thousands of residential and commercial projects in collaboration with top designers, contractors, and architects throughout the Bay Area.
Mitchell’s diverse experience also includes water damage restoration and mediation, enabling him to assess properties beyond surface aesthetics. This insight gives his clients an edge, whether identifying costly issues early on or finding value-add opportunities in potential purchases. Having built two homes himself and prepared countless properties for market, he understands the full spectrum of real estate—from design and construction to strategic pricing and investment. His discerning eye for structural integrity and property potential allows clients to make confident, informed decisions that minimize risk and maximize return.
As a core member of The Barocio Group, Mitchell works closely with his son and team lead, Silvano Barocio, in a family-run business built on passion, trust, and integrity. Their collaborative approach ensures every client receives personalized guidance and creative solutions tailored to their goals. Whether buying, selling, or investing, Mitchell offers a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence that makes him a powerful ally in any real estate journey.
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